Comic Review: Skullkickers #24

With all the re-booted and re-titled issues out of the way, Skullkickers is back to the old numbering system with issue 24. Even so, Jim Zub and co. still aren’t done poking fun at the comic industry. As with other issues following a complete arc, this issue is a Tavern Tales issue, but one with a twist: it’s a spoof of Before Watchmen and tells stories of the skullkicking protagonists and what they did before the book started. It is Before Skullkickers. 

The first story by Ron Marz and Stjephan Sejic follows the elven warrior Kusia. Before she was palling around with the mercenary duo, she trained to be an assassin, and her final test was one that even her instructor couldn’t predict. The second story by Adam Warren and Remy Mokhtar follows Rex in the Old West as he loses his clothes and wishes for a better gun. The third story is a true tavern tale by Todd Dezago and Jeff Cruz, as Rex tells all about how he became the partner to the hard-headed dwarf mercenary. The final tale by Jim Zub and Lar Desouza follows the extra-dimensional Thool as he explains dimensions, time travel, and confuses even himself.

Each of these stories kept the witty and light tone of the main story, all while playing to the strengths of the character being focused on. The story centering on Shorty/Rolf is perhaps the most outstanding, as it embodies the character perfectly. All the anger and trouble he has with new partners, along with the goofy ways in which each relationship ends, fits the sort of character he is extremely well.

The art of each story was definitely different, but each fit well for the story that was being told. The art by Stjepan Sejic on Kusia’s story was perhaps the style that stood out most. It had a sort of fairy tale quality to it that was perfect for the fantasy world, but was also detailed in a way that made Kusia’s mission and the obstacles she faced really stand out.

Each Tavern Tales issue of Skullkickers is always a delight, and this issue was no different. The theme made for some interesting stories and the various creative teams really brought it home with their respective tales.

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